Another season in the books, and another that ends with a bitter taste for the Edmonton Oilers and their faithful. The 2024-25 campaign was a rollercoaster, to say the least. Flashes of brilliance were often overshadowed by stretches of inconsistency, and while the team remains a contender, it’s clear that some key players need to find another gear if the Oilers are to finally hoist the Stanley Cup in 2026.
This isn’t about piling on, but about accountability. The NHL is a results-driven league, and multi-million dollar contracts come with lofty expectations. Here’s a look at a few Oilers who had a tough go last season and will be under the microscope when the puck drops this fall.
Stuart Skinner: The Man in the Blue Paint
There’s no tougher job in hockey than being the last line of defence, and for Stuart Skinner, the 2024-25 season was a trial by fire. After a solid showing in previous years, last season was a step back for the 26-year-old netminder. His goals-against average crept up to 2.81, and his save percentage dipped below the coveted .900 mark.
Too often, it felt like Skinner was fighting the puck, letting in soft goals at critical moments that would deflate the bench. While he’s shown he can be a top-tier goalie, his consistency last season was a major concern. He’ll need to put in the work this offseason to refine his technique and, perhaps more importantly, his mental game. The Oilers don’t need him to be a Vezina finalist, but they do need him to be a reliable presence who can make the key saves when the pressure is on. A few less five-hole goals and a few more spectacular glove saves would go a long way to calming the nerves of the Oilers faithful.
Darnell Nurse: The Weight of the Contract
Darnell Nurse is a lightning rod for criticism in Edmonton, and it’s not entirely his fault. When you’re a top-pairing defenceman with a cap hit north of $9 million, every mistake is magnified. Last season, those mistakes were a little too frequent.
While Nurse brings a physical presence and can log big minutes, his decision-making with the puck was questionable at times. He was prone to costly turnovers in his own zone and was often caught out of position on the rush. His offensive production also took a dip, with fewer goals and assists than in previous seasons.
For Nurse to justify his contract, he needs to be a shutdown defenceman who can be relied upon in all situations. This means making the simple, smart play more often, and using his size and skating ability to his advantage in the defensive zone. He doesn’t need to be a 50-point player, but he does need to be a dominant force in his own end.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: The Production Puzzle
It’s hard to be too critical of a player who consistently puts up respectable numbers, but for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the bar is set high. After a phenomenal 104-point season in 2022-23, his production has fallen back to earth. Last season, he was a solid, if unspectacular, contributor, but the Oilers need more from their third-highest-paid forward.
At times, it felt like Nuge was a passenger on the top lines rather than a driver of play. He wasn’t as assertive with the puck and seemed to defer to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl too often. While that’s understandable to a degree, the Oilers are at their best when they have three lines that can score.
For the 2025-26 season, the Oilers need Nugent-Hopkins to rediscover his scoring touch and be a more consistent offensive threat, especially on the power play. He has the skill and the hockey IQ to be a point-per-game player, and the team will need that level of production if they’re going to make a deep playoff run.
Evan Bouchard: The Offensive Dynamo with a Defensive Dilemma
Evan Bouchard is a wizard with the puck. His ability to walk the blue line and get shots through traffic is elite, and he’s a key component of the Oilers’ lethal power play. However, the old saying goes, “defence wins championships,” and this is where Bouchard needs to improve.
Too often last season, Bouchard was a liability in his own end. He was prone to defensive-zone turnovers and was often on the ice for goals against. While his offensive numbers are impressive, his defensive shortcomings can’t be ignored.
For Bouchard to take the next step and become a truly elite defenceman, he needs to round out his game. This means being more assertive in puck battles, improving his positioning, and making better decisions with the puck in the defensive zone. If he can do that, the sky’s the limit for the 25-year-old blueliner.
The 2025-26 season will be a pivotal one for the Oilers. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their primes, the window to win is now. If these players can elevate their games and play to their full potential, there’s no reason why the Oilers can’t finally bring the Stanley Cup back to the City of Champions.
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